What is a stroke?

POSTED: 8:39 AM PDT April 16, 2013 UPDATED: 8:12 AM PDT May 1, 2013

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to your brain is reduced.

According to the Mayo Clinic, when the blood supply to the brain is reduced or temporarily halted, the brain cells can begin to die within a few minutes without the oxygen and nutrients it needs from the blood.

The effects of a stroke depend on the severity of the damage to the brain. According to the National Stroke Association, the part of the brain affected by the stroke may not work as it did before the stroke. A person’s ability to walk, speak, see and feel can be hindered.

To minimize the damage caused by a stroke the Mayo Clinic urges urgent medical attention. The hospital says that getting prompt treatment can help reduce brain damage and other complications.

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